Demonstrate conformity
Show that your management system meets the requirements of an ISO management system standard.
Independent, non-UKAS certification
Demonstrate conformity with ISO standards.
An independent NDC audit against ISO requirements, where your customer, contract, tender or sector does not require accredited certification.
A proportionate certification pathway
Independent certification.
NDC Certification Bureau Ltd provides independent, non-UKAS certification based on an audit against the applicable ISO requirements.
Check that your customers accept this route. If a contract, tender, regulator or sector scheme requires accredited certification, keep the appropriate accredited route.
ISOcomply365 is a generic platform your team uses to run its own system. NDC must not configure or write your management system and then certify it. Ask NDC for its ISO/IEC 17021-1 audit framework and impartiality risk assessment before committing.
Independent assurance
When is an independent NDC audit suitable?
Independent verification
Obtain credible third-party verification rather than relying on self-declaration.
Customer and supply-chain evidence
Provide evidence of conformity for customers or supply-chain partners.
Governance assurance
Add external assurance for governance and management purposes.
Continual improvement
Support implementation of ISO standards as part of ongoing organisational improvement.
No UKAS-specific requirement
Use an independent route where no contract, regulation or tender specifically requires UKAS-accredited certification.
Standards assessed
Independent audits across key ISO standards.
Our auditors assess your management system against the applicable requirements.
- ISO 9001 – Quality Management
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Management
- ISO 45001 – Occupational Health & Safety
- ISO/IEC 27001 – Information Security
- ISO 22301 – Business Continuity
- ISO 42001 – Artificial Intelligence Management
Independent conformity assessment
External evidence against recognised ISO requirements.
ISO develops and publishes international standards but does not itself certify organisations.
An independent third-party audit provides external evidence that your management system has been assessed against the relevant ISO requirements.
Where those requirements are demonstrated, NDC can provide independent certification of conformity within the scope of our certification services.
This can provide a practical and proportionate solution for many organisations where UKAS accreditation has not been specifically requested.
CAB vs NAB
What's the difference?
A Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) performs conformity assessment activities such as certification, inspection or testing.
A National Accreditation Body (NAB) provides accreditation of CABs for specified conformity assessment activities. In the UK, UKAS is the National Accreditation Body.
UKAS accreditation provides an additional level of independent assurance over the competence of an accredited certification body. However, accredited certification is not required in every situation.
For many organisations, an independent third-party audit provides the level of external assurance they need.
Choose the right pathway
Match certification to the requirement.
NDC reviews your current certificate and latest audit report, then carries out its own independent, non-UKAS audit. A successful certification decision leads to a new NDC certificate. Confirm that this route meets your customer requirements before switching.
NDC can support clients who later need UKAS-accredited certification. The accredited certification body determines its own audit and certification requirements.
Considering independent certification?
Start your switchCheck the requirement. Then start your switch.
Check your customer and sector requirements, including contracts and tenders, before choosing a route. NDC independent certification is non-UKAS and is not a substitute where accredited certification is required.